On the morning of February 15, 2000 community garden activists along with More Gardens Coaliton and Times Up! Environmental Organization locked down to defend Esperanza Community Garden on 7th st in the East Village. Activists physically chained themselves to fences, trees, towers and a giant orange coqiu frog to prevent demolition of the space. The community took a stand to protect this garden; over 100 people were inside the garden locked down when the police came. Although the garden eventually got destroyed, the garden activists were also in court at the same time and the judge was so upset that the city destroyed the garden before their ruling that the judge granted a temporary restraining order to protect over 400 gardens. This became The Spitzer Agreement, which further protected the gardens. The direct action witnessed in this footage saved most of the community gardens in NYC.